I work in retail, and it seems like all of this "Christmas Spirit" has evaporated this year. People are so rude and and abrasive to the people working in stores, yelling at them for things like when their credit card declines (how is that our fault?). I understand that this is a stressful time, especially if you are low on money, but why do people think ok to be jerks to us when this is supposed to be Christmas.
2006-12-16 01:33:23 · 14 answers · asked by SexxyPrincess 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I used to be a retail manager, I wish I had written down all of the things I experienced, witnessed during the holidays. All of those rude customers destroyed my Christmas spirit. I could deal with the rudeness, but I hated to see my employees get treated like crap. People have gotten to the point where they know they'll get away with rude behavior, the "customer is always right" policy has gotten out of hand.
When I shop, and the employees aren't so friendly, cheerful, I always think "how much crap have they taken today?"
2006-12-16 01:52:07 · answer #1 · answered by msuzyq 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People are rude to retail workers because there's a stigma associated with working in retail. I experienced that while working in a store while I was in college. People will automatically assume that those behind the counter aren't quite as good as they are because they're behind the counter. According to these judgemental types, you can't be educated if you work in retail. It's idiotic on their part, but it is what it is. No, the customer isn't always right and frankly, many need to be put in their place!
As for when their card is declined, their reaction is more to the fact that an inadequacy on their part (the lack of money or maxing out a card) has been made known.
2006-12-16 10:19:24 · answer #2 · answered by Danagasta 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People have become so caught up in the commercialism that's become associated with Christmas, they are all stressed and forget why we celebrate it in the first place. They are only thinking about getting the latest greatest toy or video game and don't think about anyone else. A lot of the people you describe in your question need to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and listen to Linus' speech about what Christmas is all about. Plus I think that courtesy and respect for others has declined in general during the rest of the year as well.
2006-12-16 09:50:20 · answer #3 · answered by crazydave 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Commercialization. That's what killed the Spirit of Christmas. Give something to the Secular world and it will be dead before you know it.
I worked in Retail for 10 miserable years. The Customers are the ones who ruined Christmas by their Bad Attitudes.
Look at another Ruined Holy Day:
Easter Bunny? Get Real! I don't know of any Rabbit that can Carry a Basket of Eggs. Maybe a Cartoon, but that it. DUMB.
2006-12-16 09:37:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anton Mathew 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People are giving into commercialization. This is the first year I haven't worked retail at Christmas time in 8 years. What a relief.
2006-12-16 09:36:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My guess is that, in general, people on this continent have simply fallen under the spell of materialism. Christmas, and the season, has become all about the presents, and not about simply being with your family and friends. When you watch commercials, the base message is, "If your child/husband/wife doesn't get this present, he/she/they won't love you, and you don't care about them." That is a lot of pressure to dump on people who have to find the money for a diamond bracelet or PS3. I'm not religious, nor do I advocate it as a solution. But spending less time on presents and more time on just being with those you care about is a step in the right direction. But as for working retail, I did, too, and the only thing I can say is that when it got really bad, I found that a kind word and a smile for the more harassed customers usually brought a smile in return. For the rest of them, the rudest ones, who swore at me, and in one case, spat on my shirt, it was the realization that however bad it was to be spat on, it was probably much worse to be the spitter. How bad must their lives be to do that?
2006-12-16 10:58:35 · answer #6 · answered by poohmanchu3 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I work in retail
Its worse around Christmas
People think the whole "goodwill towards man" is to be applied to everyone but "the lowly retail employees (who obviously are at fault for an item being sold out to them not having available credt)"
2006-12-16 09:38:27 · answer #7 · answered by DrPepper 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Isn't it incredible that this is supposed to be the time of year to be spreading joy and cheer and people just don't realize that all they are spreading is poison....there is no reason to be mean to the hard working sales personnel....their just doing their jobs which is stressful enough this time of the year....Merry Christmas.
2006-12-16 10:06:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
honestly dear,what ever the occassions or seasons it may be,ppl can be crazy,ill tempered,because most of us are born moody....its just part of life or the world we live in,Maybe most ppl became very crazy during christmas seasons because there are more pressures during christmas seasons
2006-12-16 10:55:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think the christmas is being celebrate once a year only, it should be celebrated even they called by someone a jerk.
2006-12-16 09:38:47 · answer #10 · answered by Lai Yu Zeng 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋